When to plant in Fort Carson, CO
USDA Zone 6aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Fort Carson, Colorado — all computed from Fort Carson's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 6a means Fort Carson sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI AP · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Fort Carson’s own odds, recorded at COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 26 | May 14 | May 3 | Sep 17 | Oct 1 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F | May 15 | May 3 | Apr 22 | Sep 26 | Oct 8 | Oct 19 |
| 28°F | May 5 | Apr 24 | Apr 8 | Oct 4 | Oct 16 | Oct 29 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Fort Carson, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 29 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Fort Carson planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Fort Carson, CO?
Plan for the last spring frost in Fort Carson around May 3 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Fort Carson, CO?
Expect Fort Carson's first fall frost near October 8 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Fort Carson in?
Fort Carson is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Fort Carson?
There are roughly 158 frost-free days in Fort Carson (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around May 3 to the first fall frost near October 8.
When should I plant tomatoes in Fort Carson?
In Fort Carson, start tomato seeds indoors around March 8–March 22, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 10 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Fort Carson
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fort Carson’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Fountain · 6 km
- Security-Widefield · 8 km
- Cimarron Hills · 20 km
- Colorado Springs · 20 km
- Pueblo West · 41 km
- Black Forest · 42 km
- Monument · 44 km
- Pueblo · 48 km
Frost dates recorded at COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI AP, 15 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Fort Carson, CO — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093037. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/colorado/fort-carson.